Delighted to have the chance today to catch up with David Smith, MP for North Northumberland, a new constituency covering an area from Morpeth to Berwick. After a brief run through on the role of SENRUG, top of the agenda was our proposal for the Newcastle – Berwick local service, hourly in each direction, to be provided by electric trains with fast acceleration. Our detailed Feasibility Study from leading rail consultants Systra (to which Northumberland County Council contributed 49%, Northern contributed 49%, and SENRUG paid 2%) confirmed the service would be commercially viable and is technically feasible, ie there are sufficient train paths within the timetable, even as it stands today, after making allowance for a new station at Belford. David asked me to keep him updated and brief him on who he needs to be dialoguing with to turn this campaign in to reality – which I will be delighted to do.
